Sisters of Bon Secours pray for all nurses during National Nurses Week (May 6-12, 2010) in honor of their mission to care for the sick, the dying and the poor.

 The Solemnity of Easter

With Christians throughout the world, we celebrate the solemnity of Easter,  the feast of Christ’s resurrection from the dead: liberation from sin, hope for the world.

Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first,  and he saw and believed. – John 20:8

 Reflection:

The Resurrection of our Lord is the central mystery of Christian faith. It is also the central hope of daily human existence.

With the Resurrection we can be certain that suffering and death is not the final word on the human condition.

This is the deepest source of Christian hope. And it is the wellspring of true Christian joy.

On Easter Sunday God’s Word bursts forth in a joyful hymn of praise as the Church resounds with Alleluias.

Our Lenten observance now finds its fullest meaning.

As the message of Easter resounds in our minds and hearts, the truth of Jesus’ Resurrection finds echo in our lives…. continue reading…

Explanation of the Stations of the Cross. Link to a video to follow in the foot steps of Jesus by way of the cross during Holy Week. A meditative mini-pilgrimage for Good Friday. Stations of the Cross photographed at Sisters of Bon Secours Provincial House in Marriottsville, MD, USA.

The Annunciation:  one of the 12 great feasts of the Catholic Church.  Exactly nine months to the day, before the Feast of the Nativity (Christmas), we celebrate the annunciation Gabriel makes to Mary.  This day celebrates the day Christ enters the world, and when Mary says, ”yes” to God.

Luke 1:26-38
“The angel said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you.’ ”

As presented by Sr. Rose Marie Jasinski, Country Leader of the Sisters of Bon Secours, US:
Let us continue our prayers for each other in this Lenten season with the following passage.

Peace,

Rosie

In Lent, we are laid bare.  As we remember our pain, as we touch our woundedness, we journey toward the terror of the cross, we may find ourselves feeling vulnerable, sore, exposed.  We may struggle against the way Lent strips us of pretense and beckons us to see what is basic to us.  Yet the ashes of the first day of Lent affirm that we are elemental people.  We who are fashioned of earth are also touched by fire, brought to life by the breath of God, and blessed by the birthing waters.  Here, in the middle of the Lenten journey, we pause to reflect on the elements of which we are made, to consider not only the wounds that they sometimes harbor but also the possibilities they hold for blessing.

            God of fire, earth, wind, and water, embrace the elemental
            wounds we … continue reading…

Yesterday was the beginning of the Lenten season in the Catholic Church. Traditionally Lent is a time of preparation for baptism and being received into the Church at Easter.  Lent also calls us to live more fully the life we are meant to live all the time, which is to live in ‘joy’.

We are called to love God more deeply and to love our neighbor through service.  This calls for a conversion of heart at times.  How am I called to be the truest person God created me to be?  What stands in the way of that happening?  This is a good place to start.

A local parish priest said in his homily, instead of giving up chocolate, why not instead of cursing the person who cut you off in traffic, say “God bless you.”  Why not say that in many situations we find ourselves – what effect would that have on me over time?  The affects may be that I’m more patient, understanding, and peaceful.  Lent is a good itme to take stock of how we are called to goodness and love.

I made this … continue reading…

Today’s Gospel reminds us of the compassion of Jesus and his gift as a healer.

In Jesus’ day the sick were considered unclean and were isolated.  And yet he crossed the barrier to heal and make whole, and to tell them of the love of God.  Today, the advances of science and medical knowledge bring healing in a way that people of Jesus’ day could probably never imagine.  We are called to be compassionate healers and to reach out even if its to touch and hold a hand.  We would like to share the following prayer service adapted from the U.S. Catholic Health Association to celebrate the World Day of the Sick.

February 11, 2010

Since 1992, Pope John Paul II and now Pope Benedict XVI have called the Church to raise its awareness of the faith community’s role in the work of health care.   Pope Benedict’s  message is one of raising awareness to the importance of pastoral service in the vast world of health care.”  For Catholic health care, pastoral service shapes the nature of the clinical service we offer with … continue reading…